Mat



May 12,1931. E. w. DERQR' 1,805,038

MAT

Filed Nov. 11, 1927 INVENTOR.

ERRLEWDERR- By am A TTORNEYJ'.

Patented May 12, 1931 PATENT OFFICE EARLE W. DEER, OI? AKRON, OHIO,ASSIGNOR T0 RQBBER CRAFT PRODUCTS COMPANY,

or AKRON, 01110, A CORPORATION or 01110 HAT Application filed November11, 1927. Serial No. asa'm.

This invention relates to mats, stair pads, or other floor coverings.The invention is illustrated herein made in form suitable particularlyfor dentists, being shaped so as to fit at the side of a dentists orbarbers chair, although the shape and size of the finished article maybe modified.

The object of the invention is to construct a soft, yielding mat whichwill relieve the user of the fatigue of standing for long periods oftime. The mat is formed. of a body of sponge rubber which affordsyielding and cushioning properties. Sponge rubber, however, will bepermanently deformed and will flatten and get out of shape. Having verylittle tensile strength it will wear away rapidly, particles breakingoff easily, thereby destroying the surface of the mat. It has the additonal objection of being hot upon the feet and thereby offsetting to agreat extent its other valuable properties. combine with a sponge rubbermat an outer covering or surface which will maintain the shape of themat withoutinterfering in any manner with the desirable yieldingqualities thereof and willincrease the life of the mat..

It is also an object to so construct the mat that ventilation willalways be obtained.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan of a mat made in sector shape so as to fit about thebase of a dentists chair; and

Figure 2 is a piece of the mat showing struction.

The mat or floor covering is made of a body of sponge rubber 1 whichprovides a an enlarged cross-section of 1ts internal concellularstructure which is very soft and yielding and forms an admirable bodyfor In order, however, to prevent the purpose.

deformation of the sponge the permanent rubber, it is covered over with'acomparatively heavy layer 2 of a firmer, less yielding rubbercomposition which is preferably of substantially the nature andcomposition of .a tire tread stock. This cover layer is provided with aseries of deep parallel corrugations or irregularities 3 which form aplurality of spaced arch-like surfaces 4 It is the purpose of theinvention to tially which constitute the wearing surface of the mat.

The body portion" of the mat and its cover are vulcanized together,preferably in a single operation so that the sponge rubber completelyfills the arches 4. The comparatively stitl' rubber covering, beingcorrugated in' the manner descirbed, will retain its form under anynormal or even usually heavy pressures, and when the pressure isrelieved, the mat will instantly spring back to its original condition.The grooves between the corrugations permit the circulation of air aboutthe feet and the fatigue of long standing is relieved thereby.

It will be appreciated that the combination of soft sponge rubber bodyand the corrugated or roughened covering rovides a form of mat whichwill keep its s ape after indefinite use. This result is enchanced bythe formation of the bevel or rounded edge 5 about the mat whichconfines the sponge rubber and prevents bulging about the edge of themat. The roughened upper surfacewill also prevent slipping on the mat.

It is obvious that exact conformity with the details of construction isnot essential,

and that other formations of the upper surface may be resorted towithoutdestroyingthe efliciency of the completed mat structure.

What is claimed is:

1. A mat or the like composed of a body of sponge rubber, and acomparatively thick covering layer of rubber of substanthe consistencyof a tire treadstock of substantially even thickness throughout, thecover being formed with a plurality of closely spacedirregularitieswhich present protuberances including sponge rubber, and beingsufliciently unyielding so that they do not completely flatten out whenpressure is applied thereto, the body of the mat and its cover beingvulcanized together.

2. A mat or the like comprising a body of sponge rubber, and an outercovering of rubber of throughout, the edges of eled and enclosed by thecover, and the cover being formed on its upper surface with .a pluralityof closely spaced irregusubstantially even thickness the mat beingbevlarities defining protuberances containing upper layer being of'sufiicient thickness and 0 a composition to retain its shape underpressure.

4. A one piece ru'bber mat comprising a body portion of sponge rubber,and an outer covering, of solid rubber, the coverin layer extendingoverthe upper surface 0 the mat and around the edges thereof to confinethe sponge rubber,'the up er surface of the covering layer being of uniorm thickness and provided with a plurality of selfsustainingundulations.

EARLE W. DERR.

